| Explore |
In dirt, air pockets cultivate to form little bubbles which work as pockets for air and water to travel to the roots. Many aerate their soil by poking holes in it to allow the flow of water and Carbon Dioxide to flow through the soil and have them make their way to the roots. Without air pockets, soil wouldn’t be ensured moisture distribution, airflow to the roots, and breaking up dry clumps of soil. Following how soil characteristics may impact the growth of a plant, soil density impacts aspects such as root growth, available water capacity, and movement of water and air through the soil, similar to air pockets. Soil bulk density determines the infiltration, available water capacity, soil porosity, rooting depth/restrictions, and soil microorganism. With soil that is low in density root growth may be restricted, it may result in poor plant growth, and porosity of soil decreases
Soil varies from place to place based on five factors that form it. They are climate, topography, organisms, the parent rock below the surface, and time. Soils developed in Maine since the last glacier moved across the region in response to the parent rock (largely granite). TopographyMost Maine soils are acidic, and have a somewhat depressed ability to hold and exchange nutrients used by plants. Native plants evolved in this system are well adapted to Maine soils. However, Maine soils are often amended by adding organic matter, lime and/or fertilizer, in order to increase the productivity of food and landscape plants. |
| Experimental Design |
Start with 9 plastic water bottles and cut each in half
Put 2 seeds, 10 tablespoons of soil, and no sand into the first three water bottles
Put 2 seeds, 5 tablespoons of soil, and 5 tablespoons of sand in the second three water bottles
Put 2 seeds and 10 tablespoons of sand in the last three water bottles
Give each bottle an inch of water(each week)
Leave the plants in the sunlight for 6 hours a day during weekdays
When not left in sunlight, make observations(preferably how height is doing)
Measure the height of each plant in cm (also measure the roots)
Place back in sunlight after making observations
Materials list- ruler, 9 plastic water bottles, potting soil, sand, 18 corn seeds, tablespoons, and scissors |